United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 congressional elections in Louisiana to determine representation for the state
of Louisiana
in the United States House of Representatives
occurred November 4, 2008. Louisiana has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress
from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election
.
The primary elections were to be held September 6, 2008, but were rescheduled for October 3, 2008 due to storm damage following Hurricane Gustav
. The necessary party runoffs were held on November 4, the same date as the presidential election, and the general election for those races was held December 6th.
Republican incumbent Steve Scalise
won against Democratic nominee Jim Harlan, a businessman. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
The district includes nearly all of New Orleans
and some of its suburbs, and is heavily Democratic: John Kerry won 75% of the vote here in 2004. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'. The primary runoff in this district was held on November 4 in place of the general election, with the general election moving to December 6.
Incumbent William Jefferson
has been indicted on 16 counts of corruption, complicating his reelection bid. His opponents in the primary were New Orleans city councilman James Carter, former New Orleans city councilman Troy Carter, Jefferson Parish councilman Byron Lee
, former TV anchor Helena Moreno
, State Representative Cedric Richmond
, and former mayoral aide Kenya Smith. No candidate received 50% of the vote or more in the 4 October 2008 primary; so Jefferson and Moreno, the two candidates with the most votes, competed in a runoff on 4 November, which Jefferson won.
Jefferson faced Anh "Joseph" Cao
, the sole Republican running, along with Green candidate Malik Rahim
, Libertarian candidate Gregory Kahn, and Independent candidate Jerry Jacobs on 6 December 2008. Some 2 hours after the polls closed, CNN
declared Cao the winner, defeating Jefferson by a plurality of less than 3 percent. By the next morning Cao's victory was widely acclaimed.
Democratic incumbent Charlie Melancon
ran unopposed for re-election. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
The election was held on December 6, 2008.
Incumbent Jim McCrery
retired, making this an open seat. The district contains northwestern Louisiana, including the cities of Shreveport, DeRidder, and Natchitoches
. The district usually, but not reliably, votes Republican. Bill Clinton
won it comfortably in 1996. CQ Politics forecast of the race was "No Clear Favorite".
The Republican nominee was physician John Fleming (campaign website) of Minden
, the seat of Webster Parish. Fleming, a former Webster Parish coroner and a businessman defeated trucking company executive Chris Gorman in the Republican runoff primary held on November 4.
The Democratic candidate was Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche
(campaign website), who defeated African American attorney Willie Banks, Jr., in his party runoff on November 4. Republican candidate Jeff Thompson, despite being endorsed by Jim McCrery, was defeated in the first Republican primary, as were Democratic candidates Artis Cash and John Milkovich. Patti Cox, local party organizer and environmental consultant and a 2006 candidate against McCrery, did not enter the 2008 race.
Republican incumbent Rodney Alexander
was unopposed for re-election and won. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Republican State Senator Bill Cassidy
defeated Democratic incumbent Don Cazayoux
in the November 4 election by a margin of 48%–40%. Cazayoux had defeated Republican Woody Jenkins
49%–46% in a special election earlier in the year, and given his narrow margin of victory and the Republican-leaning nature of the district (Bush won 59% here in 2004), Cazayoux was, as expected, a GOP target as he sought his first full term.
Republican incumbent Charles Boustany
defeated Democratic State Senator Don Cravins, Jr.
by a solid margin in this district based in southwestern Louisiana
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
occurred November 4, 2008. Louisiana has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress
111th United States Congress
The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
The primary elections were to be held September 6, 2008, but were rescheduled for October 3, 2008 due to storm damage following Hurricane Gustav
Hurricane Gustav
The name Gustav has been used for five tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean:* 1984's Tropical Storm Gustav - Spent most of its existence as a tropical depression hovering over Bermuda, no major damage was reported....
. The necessary party runoffs were held on November 4, the same date as the presidential election, and the general election for those races was held December 6th.
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2008 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Republican | 594,306 | 56.81% | 6 | +2 | |
| Democratic | 398,474 | 38.09% | 1 | -2 | |
| Independents | 53,396 | 5.10% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 1,046,176 | 100.00% | 7 | — | |
District 1
Republican incumbent Steve Scalise
Steve Scalise
Stephen Joseph "Steve" Scalise is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2008. He is a member of the Republican Party...
won against Democratic nominee Jim Harlan, a businessman. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
District 2
The district includes nearly all of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and some of its suburbs, and is heavily Democratic: John Kerry won 75% of the vote here in 2004. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'. The primary runoff in this district was held on November 4 in place of the general election, with the general election moving to December 6.
Incumbent William Jefferson
William J. Jefferson
William Jennings "Bill" Jefferson is a former American politician, and a published author from the U.S. state of Louisiana. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented , which includes much of the...
has been indicted on 16 counts of corruption, complicating his reelection bid. His opponents in the primary were New Orleans city councilman James Carter, former New Orleans city councilman Troy Carter, Jefferson Parish councilman Byron Lee
Byron Lee
Byron Lee OD, OJ was a musician, record producer, and entrepreneur, best known for his work as leader of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.-Biography:Lee was born in Christiana in Manchester Parish to an Afro-Jamaican mother and a Chinese father Byron Lee OD, OJ (born Byron Aloysius St. Elmo Lee, 27...
, former TV anchor Helena Moreno
Helena Moreno
Helena Nancy Moreno is a state representative in Louisiana, representing Louisiana House District 93. She was elected on 2010 May 29. She entered office on 2010 June 8...
, State Representative Cedric Richmond
Cedric Richmond
Cedric Levon Richmond is the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which includes most of New Orleans. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life and education:...
, and former mayoral aide Kenya Smith. No candidate received 50% of the vote or more in the 4 October 2008 primary; so Jefferson and Moreno, the two candidates with the most votes, competed in a runoff on 4 November, which Jefferson won.
Jefferson faced Anh "Joseph" Cao
Joseph Cao
Anh "Joseph" Quang Cao is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. In April 2011, he announced he will be a candidate for Attorney General of Louisiana in 2011, however in September 2011 he pulled out of the race.He was the first...
, the sole Republican running, along with Green candidate Malik Rahim
Malik Rahim
Malik Rahim is a former Black Panther, and a long-time housing and prison activist in the U.S. state of Louisiana. He gained publicity as a community organizer in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina....
, Libertarian candidate Gregory Kahn, and Independent candidate Jerry Jacobs on 6 December 2008. Some 2 hours after the polls closed, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
declared Cao the winner, defeating Jefferson by a plurality of less than 3 percent. By the next morning Cao's victory was widely acclaimed.
District 3
Democratic incumbent Charlie Melancon
Charlie Melancon
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Melancon was the U.S. Representative for , serving from 2005 to 2011, and the unsuccessful 2010 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican David Vitter.-Early life, education and career:...
ran unopposed for re-election. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
District 4
The election was held on December 6, 2008.
Incumbent Jim McCrery
Jim McCrery
James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III , is an American lawyer who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1988 to 2009; he represented the 4th District of Louisiana, based in the northwestern quadrant of the state.McCrery was a ranking member on the House Ways and...
retired, making this an open seat. The district contains northwestern Louisiana, including the cities of Shreveport, DeRidder, and Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
. The district usually, but not reliably, votes Republican. Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
won it comfortably in 1996. CQ Politics forecast of the race was "No Clear Favorite".
The Republican nominee was physician John Fleming (campaign website) of Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
, the seat of Webster Parish. Fleming, a former Webster Parish coroner and a businessman defeated trucking company executive Chris Gorman in the Republican runoff primary held on November 4.
The Democratic candidate was Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche
Paul Carmouche
Paul J. Carmouche is an American Lawyer who served as a five-term District Attorney for Caddo Parish, Louisiana from 1979 to 2009. Before his tenure as District Attorney, Carmouche graduated from Loyola University New Orleans Law School in 1969 and worked as an assistant in the District Attorney's...
(campaign website), who defeated African American attorney Willie Banks, Jr., in his party runoff on November 4. Republican candidate Jeff Thompson, despite being endorsed by Jim McCrery, was defeated in the first Republican primary, as were Democratic candidates Artis Cash and John Milkovich. Patti Cox, local party organizer and environmental consultant and a 2006 candidate against McCrery, did not enter the 2008 race.
District 5
Republican incumbent Rodney Alexander
Rodney Alexander
Rodney McKinnie Alexander is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district covers twenty-two parishes in roughly the northeast quadrant of the state...
was unopposed for re-election and won. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
District 6
Republican State Senator Bill Cassidy
Bill Cassidy
William "Bill" Cassidy is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
defeated Democratic incumbent Don Cazayoux
Don Cazayoux
Donald J. 'Don' Cazayoux, Jr. is a former Democratic U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 6th congressional district. He is currently US Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana....
in the November 4 election by a margin of 48%–40%. Cazayoux had defeated Republican Woody Jenkins
Woody Jenkins
Louis Elwood "Woody" Jenkins is a newspaper editor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972–2000 and waged three unsuccessful races for the United States Senate....
49%–46% in a special election earlier in the year, and given his narrow margin of victory and the Republican-leaning nature of the district (Bush won 59% here in 2004), Cazayoux was, as expected, a GOP target as he sought his first full term.
District 7
Republican incumbent Charles Boustany
Charles Boustany
Charles William Boustany, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and medical career:...
defeated Democratic State Senator Don Cravins, Jr.
Don Cravins, Jr.
Donald R. "Don" Cravins, Jr. is a Democratic politician from the State of Louisiana.In the 2008 elections, Cravins unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic candidate for Louisiana's 7th congressional district seat held by Republican U.S. Representative Charles Boustany, Jr. In addition to Boustany,...
by a solid margin in this district based in southwestern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
External links
- Elections Division from the Louisiana Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for Louisiana at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Louisiana U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions for Louisiana congressional races from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- Louisiana Elections & Politics from The Times-Picayune newspaper